2025 Fall Panel
The Future of AI in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant concept—it’s reshaping the way we design, build, and operate in the AEC industry. This panel of accomplished professionals will explore pressing questions that reflect the front lines of this transformation. Examining both practical insights and big-picture perspectives on how AI is set to redefine the future of AEC, learn firsthand from leaders in this forward-looking discussion.
Thank you to the 2025 PWC Chicago Sponsors, who make this event possible.
Review the complete list of 2025 sponsors.
We are now accepting sponsors for next year - explore opportunities!
Schedule of Events
5:30 - 6:30 PM Networking with drinks and appetizers
6:30 - 7:45 PM Panel discussion followed by audience question & answer
7:45 - 8:30 PM Additional networking with drinks and appetizers
Meet our Moderator
Eveart Foster
Integrations, Subject Matter Expert
Autodesk
Eveart Foster is an Integrations Subject Matter Expert at Autodesk, Inc., a global leader in software for designers, builders, engineers, manufacturers, 3D artists, and production teams. Eveart leverages his experience in gap analysis, customer service, product management and enterprise level technology optimization to advance digital transformations across people, processes, and solutions in the construction industry. He has strategically held positions as both an end-user and developer of emerging technologies to optimize the entire construction project lifecycle; from planning and design to handover and operations.
He also serves as Associate Board President at Working in the Schools (WITS); Chicago’s largest literacy nonprofit, providing mentorship to Chicago Public School students and professional development to teachers. He recently joined the Employer Advisor Council for Revolution Workshop, a nonprofit social enterprise that provides construction workforce development for unemployed or underemployed people in Chicago. To sharpen his communication skills, Eveart periodically performs improv, delivers speeches, and occasionally hops on podcasts to provide construction industry expertise. You can find him on the contech Crew, Bricks and Bytes, and Work Done Right podcast episodes.
Meet our Panelists
Carmen Hernández
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Clayco
Carmen Hernández serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Clayco Inc., an architectural, engineering, design-build, and construction services firm, with more than $10 billion in 2025 annual revenues. In that role since 2013, Carmen has advised Clayco and its subsidiaries in hundreds of complex, commercial real estate construction and design-build projects, ranging in size from $100 million to more than $1 billion, including for state-of-the-art hospitals, university campus buildings, advanced manufacturing facilities, AI, quantum computing and data centers, e-distribution facilities, research labs, and even rocket launching facilities.
As General Counsel, she also advises Clayco and its subsidiaries on a wide range of corporate, transactional, regulatory, compliance matters, employment, supply chain and litigation matters related to Clayco’s operations across the United States. Carmen has also been involved in various AI initiatives intersecting with design and construction activities from preconstruction and contract negotiations through project completion.
Danielle Dy Buncio
Co-Founder & CEO
VIATechnik
Danielle Dy Buncio is the Co-Founder and CEO of VIATechnik, a global digital-transformation consultancy advancing the built environment through innovation in BIM, VDC, and digital twins. Under her guidance, VIATechnik empowers industry leaders to deliver smarter, more sustainable buildings and infrastructure that shape a better future today.
Danielle holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Danielle is a recognized leader in advancing AI-driven transformation, partnering with leading owners, GCs, and trades to drive the industry’s digital evolution. She also serves on the Boards of Ryan Companies, a $4B integrated real estate developer design-builder, and J.F. Brennan, a 100-year old heavy civil & marine contractor.
Jamie Redmond
Chief Operating Officer + Partner
Redmond
Jamie Redmond is Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Redmond, where she oversees the commercial construction firm’s Operations Team and leads human resources, business operations, and corporate giving. As one of the few female construction executives in Chicago, Jamie has worked tirelessly to build an inclusive culture at Redmond. Due to Jamie’s leadership and impact on culture, benefits, and corporate accountability, Redmond has been a top ten company on Crain’s Best Places to Work list for the past four years.
Jamie oversees Redmond’s corporate giving, and spearheaded the creation of the Redmond Foundation, founded with the Executive Team at Redmond to fund programming and scholarships for women and minorities interested in AEC careers. Jamie serves in the Board for World Business Chicago and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.
Kimberly Dowdell
Vice President of Strategic Relationships
Amrize
Kimberly Dowdell is Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Amrize, where she combines her impressive prior experience to deliver strong results for partners, customers, and stakeholders. Kimberly has devoted her entire professional career to laying the foundations for architects to create positive social change on a local, national, and global scale. She has built bridges from diverse pillars of our society, from architectural firms and their clients to professional organizations, commercial developers, and government agencies and academia.
Kimberly frequently speaks at conferences and events, and mentors emerging leaders throughout the industry. Her expertise and leadership have earned her recognition and appointments from several prominent organizations, such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Chicago Central Area Committee (CCAC), Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB), and Ingenuity Chicago, which increases access to quality arts education for all Chicago Public School students.
Kimberly co-founded Social Economic Environmental Design, an organization that promotes sustainable development in 2005. She has been honored as a “40 Under 40” in Crain’s Chicago Business and Crain’s Detroit Business and delivered the 19th Annual Dunlop Lecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She was elected by her fellow alumni to serve on the board of trustees at Cornell University in 2022.
Nancy Kohout
Senior Principal / Mechanical Discipline Leader
SmithGroup
Nancy Kohout is a Senior Principal and licensed mechanical engineering leader in SmithGroup’s Chicago office. Nancy’s twin passions are strategizing for decarbonization and ensuring a path to leadership for women in our industry. She has 30 years of experience in the building design industry and is an expert in mechanical design and team leadership.
Nancy is proud to be a technical account manager for the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Climate Challenge. She is currently Illinois ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) president, co-chair of the 2026 Women in ASHRAE Leadership Symposium, and a member of the steering committee for the 2025 ASHRAE Decarbonization Conference.
She received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Ohio State University. In her free time, Nancy loves an American roadtrip to the national parks in her camper van and cultural immersion through budget international travel. On a given night or weekend, you might find her in her backyard jumping on her trampoline with one of her children or having a mint julep with her husband Frank.
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